I grew up in the American Southwest (Albuquerque, NM) and my dad is a geek for new technology so I learned about solar power and solar thermal tech as a kid. Forty years later, solar is now going mainstream. I love the outdoors, and like most humans, spend most of my time indoors, so I have learned to love the indoors too! I love well designed, beautifully lighted and landscaped environments. Making them energy efficient, functional, healthy and durable are now within our reach and my aim is to speed the transition to a built environment that doesn't borrow from future generations. My motto is “Growth for the greater good!” I have been doing sales, marketing, branding, and business development consulting since 2001. I have been writing, speaking and consulting on energy conservation, green building, renewable energy, and green jobs for the past decade and grew up learning about passive and active solar projects in my home town of Albuquerque where my father and I built several solar thermal devices (cookers, hot water heater) when I was a teenager. As a co-leader of theChampaign County Sustainability Network for the past three years I have organized dozens of educational events about sustainability that bring together consumers, subject matter experts and educational and nonprofit leaders. I also serve on the board of the Illinois Green Business Association.